Punch card-operated switch device



Jan. 19, 1965 R. H. l. SODERMAN ETAL 3,166,648

PUNCH CARD-OPERATED SWITCH DEVICE Filed Sept. 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet lJan. 19, 1965 R. H. SODERMAN ETAL 3,166,648

PUNCH CARD-OPERATED SWITCH DEVICE Filed Sept. 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS= RUNE HI. SODERM ERT RB L. MARK B RAHAM RKMAN ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,166,648 PUNCH CARD-OPERATED SWITCH DEVICE Rune H. I.Soderrnan, Stockton, NJL, Herbert L. Marisman, Stockton, NJ; (PAL). Box85%, Philadelphia,

Pa), and Abraham Marlsman, Stoclrton, NJ. (R0.

Box 8503, Philadelphia, Pa); sa d Soderrnan assignor to Herbert L.lvlarkman, Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed Sept. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 226,225 14 Claims. (Cl. 200-46) Thisinvention relates to electrical switch means, and it particularlyrelates to switch means set up in banks and actuated by punch cards tomake or break electrical circuits for determining specified data.

Punch card actuated switch means heretofore generally in use have beendifficult and expensive to produce and subject to easy breakdown,especially because of the fatigue and wear of various spring'andspring-clip elements used therein. When repair was needed, it wasgenerally a laborious and difficult task, even when only a singleelement had to be repaired or replaced.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome theabove'difliculties by providing a switch assembly which is easy andrelatively inexpensive to produce and which. can be easily repaired whensuch repairs are necessary. I

.Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch assemblyof the aforesaid type which eliminates the use of springs, spring clips,and other such elements which are subject to early fatigue and easybreakdown.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch assemblyof the aforesaid type which is highly efficient in its operation andeasy to use.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an assembly embodying the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view' taken generally on line 22 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged, detailed view of a switch housing shownin FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3. 7

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing an alternative embodimentof the switch housing.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a supporting panelfor the switch housings made up of stacked blocks.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective exploded-view of a form of theinvention utilizing stacked blocks and showing a pair of blocks, innon-stacked position, together with a portion of an alternative form ofplunger.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing an alternative embodimentof the stacked blocks.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the upper surface of one of thestacked blocks in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the plunger used with theswitch assembly illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing an alternativeembodiment thereof.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but showing a plunger used with theswitch assembly of FIG. 11.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawingswherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there isshown a switch assembly, generally designated 10, comprising a base 12having integral therewith a pair of spaced, vertical panels 14 and 16.The

. tact portion 69L 3,166,648 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 ice panel 14 isprovided with a series of rows of apertures through each of whichextends the forward portion of a plunger 18. Each of these plungers 18has a front end insertable into a corresponding aperture 20 in a frontmovable panel 22 while the rear portion of each plunger 18 extendsthrough a corresponding aperture in a rear movable panel 24 and has asomewhat enlarged, cylindrical contact portion 26 at its rearmost endwhich is movable in a corresponding cylindrical switch housing 23positioned in the panel 16. i

The movable panels 22 and 24 are connected to each other forsimultaneous movement by means of brackets 3% Guide pins 32 projectforwardly from the fixed panel 14, adjacent each vertical edge thereofand these pins are received in corresponding apertures in the frontportion of each bracket 3% to serve as guide means for maintaining theproper alignment of the movable panels during movement thereof along theupper surface of the base member 12. The panels 22 and 24 are movable bymeans of an actuating means comprising a finger 34 projecting forwardlyfrom the central portion of the lower edge of the panel 22 and providedwith an aperture to receive a pivot pin 36 connecting it to one end of alink 33. The opposite end of the link 38 is connected by a pivot pin 44)to one end of a lever 42 pivoted to the base at 44 and provided with anoffset portion 46 having ahandle 48.

The front movable panel 22 is provided with a vertical slot 5t centrallythereof, this slot 5% intersecting the apertures 29 (as best seen inFIG. 2), and adapted to hold a punch card 52 therein.

Each plunger 13 has a head 54 intermediate its ends, and this head bearsagainst the rear movable panel 24 whereby when the plunger is movedrearwardly it moves the panel 24 along therewith, while when the panel24 is moved forwardly it pushes the plunger ahead of it. The stationarypanel 14 acts as a stop means to limit forward movement of the plungerby abutment with the head 54 (as illustrated in FIG. 2).

Each switch housing 28 comprises an outer cylindrical shell 56constructed of electrically conductive material and mounted in anappropriate opening in the panel 16 which is, itself, constructed ofelectrically non-conductive material. On opposite front and rear facesof the panel 16 are respective plates 58 and 60, also made ofelectrically non-conductive material and having mating apertures torespectively receive the plunger 18 and the rear portion of the switchhousing. These plates securely confine the switch housings in the panel16 The outer shell 56 of each switch housing is provided with aninwardly enlar ed front end forming a front con- Coaxial with the outershell 56 and spaced inwardly therefrom by a cylindrical, electricallyinsulating intermediate shell 62 is an inner electrically conductivecylindrical shell 64. The front end of shell 64 is spaced from theenlarged front end 60 of shell 56 by an enlarged front portion 66 ofintermediate shell 62. The three coaxial shells 56, 62 and 64, at theirrear portions,

are correspondingly reduced as they pass through plate 60, the shells 56and .64 being connected at their rear ends to lead lines (not shown)connected to opposite sides of the circuit.

In the operation of the above-described device, a cardplunger willremain in engagement only with the front conductor 69 whereby thatswitch remains open. However, where the card 52 is not perforated, as itmoves rearwardly, it pushes back the plunger to the position where theportion 26 bridges the insulated gap between the conductor portion 60and the conductor shell 64 whereby the switchi closed. The number andposition of the switches closed (or open as the case might be)determines the data'obt-ained; After each use, the handle 48 ismanipulated to move the plunger 18 forwardly with it until head 54 abutspanel 14 which limits its further forward movement. The punch card isthen removed.

In FIG. there is shown a modification of the switch housingof FIGS. 2, 3and 4 wherein the housing 70 is rectangular insteadof circular incross-sectionfland includes a rectangular outer shell 72 of insulatingmaterial and a rectangular inner shell 74 of insulatingmaterial. Upperand lower outer conductive plates 76 and 78 are positioned between theinsulator shells 72 and 74 and'upper and lower inner conductive plates80 and 32 are positioned inwardly of insulative shell 74 and'are spacedfrom each other by the inner shell. Otherwise, this modification issimilar to that shown in FIG. 3 in that the outer plates 76 and 78extend forwardly beyond the inner plates 80 and 82 and are provided withenlarged forward portions similar to those shown at 60, these enlargedportions being spaced from the ends of plates 80 and 82 by insulatorportions similar to those shown at 66.,

Although'not specifically illustrated, the panel 16 is preferably builtup of a series of vertically-stacked blocks made of electricallynon-conductive material, each block having a bank of hemisphericalrecesses on opposite faces thereof which mate with similar recesses onthe blocks above and below to form the switch housings, the coaxialconductive and non-conductive shells 56, 62 and 64 being either printed'or otherwise affixed to the walls of the recesses so that when theupper and lower recesses mate a complete switch housing is formed. Onthe other hand, if desired, the coaxial shells can be inserted aftertheblocks have been assembled and the openings formed.

The stacked block type of arrangement is more specifically illustratedin FIGS. 6 and 7 wherethe panel, generally desiguated 90, is made up ofa series of vertically stacked blocks 92 having generally hemisphericalrecesses 94 on one face thereof and similar recesses 96 on the otherface. These recesses mate to form openings 98 and, in the particularembodiment of the inventionillustrated in'FIGS. 6 and 7, the upperrecesses 94, are fully coated with a conductive surface 100 except fornonconductive edge portions 102 along each side, while the lowerrecesses 96 are uncoated, with conductive material except for an arcuateband 104 adjacent the front edge and an elongated strip 106 extendingrearwardly from the band 104. The band 104 is spaced at each end fromthe edges of the recess 96 and the strip 106 is also spaced from thecorresponding edge of the recess so that non-conduc-. rive side edges108 are formed similar to edges 102. When the blocks are stacked uponeach other, the edges 102 and 108 keep the conductive portions'fromtouching. At the front end of each opening forming a switch housing,except for the edges 102, and 108, the band 104 and coating 100 form acomplete conductive aperture. However, stretchingrearwardly from thearea of the band 104, the entire upper portion of the opening isnon-conand 7, when the plunger is in the forward position, the band 112connects the band 104 with the conductive'c'oating and the circuit isclosed. However, when the plunger is pushed back, the band 112 is incontact only with the non-conductive portion of recess 96 while the gapin the band 112 mates with the strip 106, thereby opening the circuit.The resilient nature of thefplunger and its hollow construction gives ita flexibil-itywhich causes it to retain a tight frictional'contact withthe walls of the opening 98throughout its movement forward and backwardtherein. 5 I? In FIG. 8, a modification of theinvention is shown whereinthe panel similar topanel 90, is built up of blocks 122 which aresimilar to blocks 92 except for the fact that only the'under'surfaceofthe blocks 122 are provided with generally hemispherical recesses 124,the upper surfaces being'flat. With this construction, the plungers areof corresponding hemispherical shape. Although this type of blockconstruction can be alternatively used 'both with the form of theinvention shown in FIGS. l'to 5 and that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, it isillustrated as being used with a form of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10 wherein two spaced, parallel electrically conductivestrips 126 and 128 are provided on'the flat upper surface of each blockbounded by each convex recess 124 of the block above. The strip'126 isprovided with a gap 130 close .to its front end while thestrip 128 ismade integral with a bridging strip 132at thefront end. The bridgingstrip 132 is also integral with the front-end of strip 126 forwardly ofthe gap 130. The rear ends of the strips 126 and 128 are connected toopposite sides of the circuit by lead line (not shown).

The plunger 134 (shown in FIG. 10) utilized with the construction ofFIGS. 8 and 9 comprises an elec trically non-conductive body ofhemispherical cross-section with the top surface being flat; atthe-front end of the flat top surface is an electrically conductiveplate 136; this plate being positioned adjacent one edge of the plunger.When the plunger 134 is inserted in'the owning formed by recess 124, itis" reversed from the position shown in FIG. 10 so that'the fiat side isdown in abutment with the conductive strips 126 and 128 in FIG. 9 andthe plate 136 is at the front; When the plunger is in the forwardposition, the conductive-plate 136 of the plunger is in contact with thegap 130 and the gap is bridged to close the circuit. As the plunger ispushed back, the plate 136 leaves the gap 130 and the circuit is opened.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, the construction is almostidentical with that ofFIGS. 9 and 10 except that' the two parallel, spaced conductive strips140 and 142'both extend from one end to the other and both are providedwith transverse portions, as at 144 and 146 respectively, at'the frontend; A gap 148 separates the portions 144 and in the forward positionthe plate 152'bridges the gap" ductive except forthe strip 106. Thecoating 100 and strip 106 are connected by lead wires (not shown). toopposite sides of the circuit. 1

Coacting with each switch housing formed by the openings98 is a plunger110 shaped similarly to plungers 18 except that his hollow and is madeof a flexible or resilient electrically non-conductive material.Adjacent the rear end of theplunger 110 is an. arcuate band 112 ofelectrically conductive material. This band extends only partlyaroundthe plunger, leaving agap-which, when the plunger is inserted into theopening 98, mates with the conductive strip 106.

In the operationof theswitch mechanismof FIGS. 6

146.- The plunger 150 used in conjunction with this form' of the deviceis identical to plunger 134 except that the conductive plate 152 is inthe center of thefront edge ofthe flat top surface so that when theplunger is 148 and closes the circuit, while when the plunger. is

pushed baclgthe plate 152 leaves the gap 148 and the circuit is opened.v

In the forms shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, 'the gaps 130 and 148 and theplates i136 and'152 are shown at" the forward ends of their respectivestructural units, however,

ing a base member, a switch housing support panel rigidly connected tosaid base member, a plurality of individual switch housings in a bank,said housings opening from a front face of said support panel, eachswitch housing having a pair of contact members of which one contactmemberis connected to one side and the other is connected to an oppositeside of an electrical data circuit, an individual switch plunger axiallymovable in each switch housing, a pair of spaced, parallel movablepanels movable in unison toward and away from said front face of thesupport panel, a first one of said movable panels being positionedbetween the second of said movable panels and the support panel, saidsecond movable panel having a slot therein for removably receiving andholding a punch card, said slot being transverse to the plane ofmovement of said plungers, said second panel having a plurality ofapertures therethrough corresponding in number and positions to saidswitch housings in said support panel, each aperture intersecting saidslot and being constructed to slidably receive a corresponding plunger,said apertures permitting relative movement between said second movablepanel and said individual plungers when any aperture in a punch cardpositioned in said slot mates with a plunger while, when said punch cardhas no mating aperture, movement of said second movable panel towardsaid support panel causes abutment of the plunger with the card andmovement of the plunger in conjunction with the movable panels, means onsaid first movable panel engaging with said plungers to move saidplungers away from said support panel upon movement of said firstmovable panel in the corresponding direction, the contact members ineach switch housing being spaced from each other to form an electricalgap, and the corresponding plunger having an electrical contactconstructed and arranged to bridge said gap when said plunger is in oneposition of axial movement and to leave said gap unbridged in otheraxial positions of said plunger.

2. The switch assembly of claim 1 wherein said support panel isconstructed of a series of vertically stacked blocks of electricallynon-conductive material, each block having a plurality of recesses on atleast one side thereof, said recesses forming enclosures encompassingthe switch housings.

3. The switch assembly of claim 1 wherein each switch housing comprisescoaxially arranged inner and outer tubular conductive sleeves ofelectrically conductive material forming said pair of contact members,the conductive sleeves being radially spaced from each other by anelectrically non-conductive intermediate sleeve and the conductivesleeves having contact portions at corresponding ends, said contactportions being axially spaced from each other to form said electricalgap.

4. The switch assembly of claim 1 wherein each switch housing comprisesan inner and outer casing of electrically non-conductive material, afirst pair of oppositelydisposed conductive plates between the the innerand outer casings and a second pair of oppositely-disposed conductiveplates inwardly of the inner casing, the first pair of plates beingelectrically connected in common to the circuit and the second pair ofplates being electrically connected in common to the circuit, said firstpair of plates having contact portions and said second pair of plateshaving contact portions, the contact portions of said first pair ofplates being spaced from the contact portions of said second pair ofplates axially of the movement of said plunger.

5. The switch assembly of claim 1 wherein each switch housing comprisesupper and lower curved walls of nonconductive material, one of saidwalls being coated over its entire surface with an electricallyconductive material except for its opposite longitudinal edges matingwith the corresponding edges of the other wall, said edges beingnon-conductive, and the other wall having an arcuate electricallyconductive band thereon at one end and an electrically conductive stripextending from said band to the opposite end of the corresponding wall,and the plunger for each switch housing being cylindrical and having anarcuate band partially encompassing the circumference at one endthereof, said last-mentioned arcuate band having spaced ends leaving agap which mates with the conductive strip on said other wall duringmovement of the plunger in the switch housing.

6. The switch assembly of claim 1 wherein the. pair of contact memberscomprise a pair of spaced, parallel electrically conductive stripsextending longitudinally of the path of movement of the plunger, atleast one of said strips having a transverse portion extending towardthe other strip and a gap between said transverse portion and the otherstrip, and the plunger being electrically non-conductive but having anelectrically conductive contact plate positioned to bridge said gap whensaid plunger is in a predetermined position.

7. The switch assembly of claim 1 wherein said plungers are constructedof resilient material.

8. A punch card-operated switch assembly comprising a single panel ofelectrically non-conductive material, a bank of electrical switchhousings in said panel, a plunger movable in each of said switchhousings, each switch housing including a pair of electrical conductorsspaced from each other in the direction of movement of the correspondingplunger, each plunger having an electrical contact thereon arranged toopen and close an electrical circuit between said spaced electricalconductors upon movement of said plunger from one position to another, apunch card holder movable toward and away from said support and havingapertures therein to correspond in number and position with said switchhousings and plungers, said holder being constructed to hold a punchcard so that any perforations in the card mate with correspondingapertures in said holder, punched portions of said card permittingpenetration therethrough of corresponding plungers when said holder ismoved toward said support and unpunched portions acting to push thecorresponding plungers in the direction of movement of the holder whenthe holder is moved toward said support, and means rigidly connected tosaid holder to move said plungers away from said support as said holderis moved away from said support.

9. In a punch card-operated switch assembly, a switch means comprising ahousing having a pair of contact members of which one contact member isconnected to one side and the other is connected to an opposite side ofan electrical data circuit, a plunger axially movable in said housing,the contact members being laterally spaced from each other and extendinglongitudinally of the direction of movement of said plunger from onecommon end plane to an opposite common end plane, one of said contactmembers having a portion spaced axially from a corresponding portion ofthe other contact member to form an electrical gap, and the plungerhaving an electrical contact constructed to bridge said gap when saidplunger is in one position of axial movement and to leave said gapunbridged in other axial positions of said plunger. 10. The assembly ofclaim 9 wherein the switch housing comprises coaxially arranged innerand outer tubular conductive sleeves of electrically conductive materialforming said pair of contact members, the conductive sleeves beingradially spaced from each other by an electrically non-conductiveintermediate sleeve and the conductive sleeves having contact portionsat correspondmg ends, said contact portions being axially spaced fromeach other to form said electrical gap.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the housing comprises an inner andouter casing of electrically non-conductive material, a first pair ofoppositely-disposed conductive plates between the inner and outercasings and a second pair of oppositely-disposed conductive platesinwardly of the inner casing, the first pair of plates beingelectrically connected in common to the circuit and the second pair ofplates being electrically connected in conimon to the circuit, .saidfirst pair of plates having contact portions and said second pair ofplates having contactportions, the contact portions of said first pairof plates being spaced from the contact portions'ofsaid second pair ofplates axially of the movement of said plunger.

12. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the housing comprises upper andlower curvedwalls of non-conductive material, one of said walls, beingcoated over.:its entire surface with an electrically conductive materialexcept for its. opposite longitudinal edges mating with thecorresponding edges of theother wall, said edges being non conductive,and the other wall having an arcuate -elec-, trically-conduct-iveband'thereon at one end and anieleca trically conductive stripextendingfrom said'band to the opposite end of the corresponding wall,and theplunger for each switch housing being cylindrical and having an arcuate,band partially encompassing the circumference at one end thereof, saidlast-mentionedarc-uate band having spaced ends leaving a gap which mateswiththe conductive strip on said other wallduring movementof the plungerin the switch housing.

13. The assembly'of claim 9 wherein-the pair-of. con-. tact memberscomprise a pairof spacedplparallel electrically conductive stripsextending longitudinally of the path of-rnov'ernent ot'theuplungenwatleast .one of said strips having aztransverse portion extending towardthe other. strip and a gap between saidvvtransverse portion and theotherstrip, and the plungerheing. electrically non-conductive.buthaving" an electrically conductive con-, tact plate positioned tobridge said'igap'when' .said. plunger is inapredeterm-ined position. v 11 ,5 z"

14; The assembly tofelairnt-9swherein theplunger. is constructedotresilientmaterial; 1 j I. I 7

I v Reierences Cited in the. file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS612,123 "'Schwedtmann 2,903,529 Hanthorn 2,923,800" Borde et al.

- on; 1111893 S p 8 1959 F b 24 50

8. A PUNCH CARD-OPERATED SWITCH ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SINGLE PANEL OFELECTRICALLY NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, A BANK OF ELECTRICAL SWITCHHOUSINGS IN SAID PANEL, A PLUNGER MOVABLE IN EACH OF SAID SWITCHHOUSINGS, EACH SWITCH HOUSING INCLUDING A PAIR OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORSSPACED FROM EACH OTHER IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE CORRESPONDINGPLUNGER, EACH PLUNGER HAVING AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT THEREON ARRANGED TOOPEN AND CLOSE AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BETWEEN SAID SPACED ELECTRICALCONDUCTORS UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID PLUNGER FROM ONE POSITION TO ANOTHER, APUNCH CARD HOLDER MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT AND HAVINGAPERTURES THEREIN TO CORRESPOND IN NUMBER AND POSITION WITH SAID SWITCHHOUSINGS AND PLUNGERS, SAID HOLDER BEING CONSTRUCTED TO HOLD TO PUNCHCAR SO THAT ANY PERFORATIONS IN THE CARD MATE WITH CORRESPONDINGAPERTURES IN SAID HOLDER, PUNCHED PORTIONS OF SAID CARD PERMITTINGPENETRATION THERETHROUGH OF CORRESPONDING PLUNGERS WHEN SAID HOLDER ISMOVED TOWARD SAID SUPPORT AND UNPUNCHED PORTIONS ACTING TO PUSH THECORRESPONDING PLUNGERS IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE HOLDER WHENTHE HOLDER IS MOVED TOWARD SAID SUPPORT, AND MEANS RIGIDLY CONNECTED TOSAID HOLDER TO MOVE SAID PLUNGERS AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT AS SAID HOLDERIS MOVED AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT.